12 THE PROMISE OF CHILDHOOD. THE PROMISE OF CHILDHOOD. A ROSE-BUD by my early walk, Ere twice the shades o' dawn are fled, Within the bush, her covert nest She soon shall see her tender brood, So thou, dear bird, young Jeany fair, So thou, sweet rose-bud, young and gay, R. Burns. BLIGHTED IN THE BUD. BLIGHTED IN THE BUD. THREE years she grew in sun and shower; This child I to myself will take; She shall be mine, and I will make "Myself will to my darling be Both law and impulse: and with me The girl, in rock and plain, In earth and heaven, in glade and bower To kindle or restrain. "She shall be sportive as the fawn And her's shall be the breathing balm, Of mute insensate things. "The floating clouds their state shall lend To her; for her the willow bend; Nor shall she fail to see E'en in the motions of the storm Grace that shall mould the maiden's form This Nature snake-The work was done Flow shot my Luce's race was zur! She diet, ant te ir me This heath, this calm and quie Szene; The mema of what has been Ant never mare wil ha. BEREAVEMENT. 15 BEREAVEMENT. SHE dwelt among the untrodden ways A maid whom there were none to praise, A violet by a mossy stone She lived unknown, and few could know When Lucy ceased to be; But she is in her grave, and O! The difference to me! W. Wordsworth. 16 MUTABILITY. MUTABILITY. THE flower that smiles to-day All that we wish to stay, Virtue, how frail it is! Friendship too rare! Love, how it sells poor bliss For proud despair! But we, though soon they fall, Which ours we call Whilst skies are blue and bright, Whilst flowers are gay, Whilst eyes that change ere night Make glad the day; Whilst yet the calm hours creep, Percy Bysshe Shelley |